Wire recorder turret



Jan. 17, 1950 o. R. NEMETH WIRE RECORDER TURRET 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 16, 1947 INVENTOR.

Jan. 17, 1950 Filed Aug. 16, 1947 0- R. NEMETH WIRE RECORDER TURRET 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Jan. 17, WEU o. R. NEMETH 2,495,125

WIRE RECORDER TURRET Filed Aug. 16, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. @22 0 Zr? Al /726% Patented Jan. 17, 195

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WIRE RECORDER TURRET Otto R. Nemeth, Chicago, Ill. Application August 16, 1947, Serial No. 769,055

'7 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to magnetic recording and reproducing devices, and is specifically directed to the provision of an improved turret designed for use in such a machine. The principles of this teaching are equally applicable to wire recorders and to machines designed to employ a flat paramagnetic tape, but since the specific embodiment of the invention here disclosed is intended for use in a machine utilizing wire as the recording medium, it will be described with particular reference to wire recorders.

The primary purpose of a turret mechanism as disclosed in this application is to provide a means whereby a magnetic translating device may be self-threading, so that the wire, tape, or other recording medium need not be led over the translating head, through the driving devices, across idler wheels or around wire guides by hand, but instead may be automatically caused to engage these various instrumentalities. This type of mechanism is particularly desirable in magazine type machines, not only because it eliminates the inconvenience of hand threading, but also since it means that the individual magazines need contain only storage facilities for the record, and that the translating head, erasing means, level winding devices, wire guides, etc., need not be incorporated as a part of the magazine, but may be mounted on the machine to engage the record in any of several magazines when the magazine is put in position. Thus when a magazine is placed on the machine, the span of wire extending between the spools in the magazine is automatically engaged and threaded over the erasing and recording gaps of the head and across the driving and level winding devices, so that the machine is ready to operate. The usefulness of the turret is not limited to magazine machines, however, since even in a free spool type machine it is a considerable convenience if the individual spools need only be placed on the machine without the necessity of hand threading. The present invention will accordingly be described in conjunction with a record consisting of a fine steel wire wound on and extending between 2. pair of spools, which need not necessarily be enclosed in a magazine housing, but which may form a part of a magazine if desired. As heretofore stated, the primary object of a turret type recorder is the provision of automatic threading. However, to obtain high fidelity reproduction, it is also essential to achieve perfectly smooth vibrationless operation of the mechanism by which the record is moved across the translating head, so that the rate of movement of the record across the flux gap will be absolutely uniform and free from any mechanical vibration of fluctuations in linear velocity. Satisfactory accomplishment of this important aim has never heretofore been achieved, since it has been assumed that any practical type of threading mechanism including a constant speed driving capstan required that the driving capstan be on a shiftable mountingonthe frame of the machine in order to move into or out of engagement with the wire, and it appears to be mechanically impossible to achieve the necessary freedom from vibration and uniformity in operating speed on any sort of a shiftable device.

It is therefore the principal aim of the presen invention to provide a record threading device for a magnetic recording and reproducing machine comprising a turret having its individual parts so constructed andarranged that the unit is capable of unusually uniform motion, together with smooth and vibrationless operation so that the linear rate of movement of the wire across the translating head approaches absolute uniformity more closely than heretofore possible in a machine of the self-threading type.

Another important object of the invention resides in'the provision of a turret for a magnetic recorder including a record driving capstan 'on an axially stationary spindle rotatable in bearings rigidly fixed in the main frame of the machine, so that a relatively large flywheel may be carried directly on the spindle to aid in attaining uniform motion; together with wire guide means adapted to swing in an arcuate direction around the capstan, to engage the wire and place it in the groove of the capstan.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a magnetic recorder turret havingthe characteristics above indicated,. yet of sturdy, rugged, and compact design so that it is capable of trouble-free operation over a long period of time and is unlikely to be damaged by ordinary abuse or neglect.

Still another object of the invention resides in the provision of a turret for a magnetic recorder including a wire uide adapted to reciprocate in a direction generally perpendicular to the movement of the wire to effect level winding of the wire on the reels, together with an improved and simplified method of actuating the wire guide.

The manner in which the fore'goingobjects are accomplished by the teachings of this disclosure are best described by reference to the drawings attached to and forming a part of the present specification, and illustrating one form of the invention. It will be noted that the structure shown not only represents a construction remote from any of the published art, but also is a direct departure from previous machines devised by the present inventor, in that while prior devices of the applicant (Serial No. 673,363, filed May 1, 1946, now abandoned) have provided a moveable turret to support a capstan, translating head, and wire guide, the present invention provides a driving capstan that does not change its axial position. Instead, itiis rotatable on a fixed axis so that it may be mounted in stationary bearings adequately supported on the main frame of the machine. The .turret is supported by the capstan bearings instead of supp rting them. It follows that, while the structure of the turret is concentric with the capstan and rotates around it, yet only the translating head and the wire guide are actually supported by the turret-structure and the mass of the capstan and flywheel are supported directly on the main frame. The parts are arranged, however, so that in one portion of the turret the wire (or other recording medium) of the machine, extending in a straight span across the turret, will be clear of all of the turret parts, 'so that the wire spools or magazine may be placed on the machine or removed therefrom without dangerof entangling the wire in the turret mechanism. However, when the turret is energized, itrotates about the axis of the driving capstan so that the wire guiding means advance across the wire span, engage the wire, place it in-the groove of the driving capstan, and draw it into -a loop around the recording head.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings attached to andforming a part of this specification,

Figure 1 is -a fragmental plan view of a magnetic recorder having a turret as contemplated in the present invention, the turret being shown in inoperative position, with the wire record of the device extending in a straight span between the feed reel and the take up reel and clear of the driving capstan translating head, and level wind guide.

' Figure 2 is a frag-mental plan view similar to Figure 1 showing the operating position of the turret, with the wire looped around the translat- -ing head and engaging the driving capstan and level winding guide.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the plane of the line 3-3 of Fig- :ure2, and

Figure 4 is a detail plan sectional view taken substantially on the plane of the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

The recorder includes a main frame upon which a pair of motors -l I and I2 are mounted with reels l3 and 44 consisting of spools carried on the armature shafts of the motors H and I2, respectively. The spools serve as points of storage for an elongated record l5, which, for the exact type of machine illustrated, is a fine steel wire. The wire is coiled on both spools so that it may traverse between the spools l3 and I4 in either direction. 'When the machine is recording or reproducing, the wire will extend in a loop I5a partially around a translating head It, around a driving'capstan 1'1 at I51) and across a level wind guide l8 at [50 (Figure 2). When the wire is being rewound, advanced without recording, or when the spools are to be put in position or removed, the wire may extend in a straight span I 5d between :the spools (Figure 1) The drivingcapstan I? is shown with a V groove l9 to engage'the wire record, and with a pair of oppositely tapered surfaces to guide the wire into the groove. The capstan I7 is secured to the upper end of a driving spindle 2i by a machine screw 22, and the spindle is rotatably mounted in a pair of bearings 23 and 24 at the upper and lowin ends respectively of a bearing sleeve 25. The bearingsleeve 25 includes a reduced portion 26 at its lower end fitted into a bore in the main frame 49 of .the machine and locked in position by a threaded nut 21 .and lock washer 28 so that the The spindle driving pulley 38 is loosely mounted on the lower end of the capstan spindle 2! and is connected to the spindle through a rubber torque member M. The connection is made by a pair of -pins42 which engage two of the arms of the rubber piece, and a pair of screws 43 extending through theopposite arms and into a hollow housing 44, A flywheel 45 is mounted on the lower end of the .capstan spindle 2! and a locking collar 46 is positioned immediately above the upper bearing 23 and secured to the spindle by the set screw 47.

The cam driving pulley 39 is mounted on a ver- 17103.1 spindle 5| extending through a bearing in the frame l6 and having a worm 52 at its upper end in mesh with a worm gear 53 on a horizontal spindle 54. The spindle 54 is also mounted in a suitable bearing on the main frame. The spindle .54 carries a worm 55 at theend opposite the worm gear 53, and :the worm 55 meshes with a worm gear 56 mounted on the hub of a circular cam 51. The hub of the cam is fitted over the outer surface of the bearing sleeve 25 so that the cam 51 and gear .56 are both rotatable on an axis concentric with the spindle 2| and may be driven by the motor 29 through the belt 3'! and the worm gears.

A collar 66 is secured to the sleeve 25 by a set screw v58 to prevent upward movement of the cam and .gearassembly.

The turretof the machine, generally designated at 1, includes a surface plate 62 and a gear 63 both mounted on acentral bearing 64 fitted to the outer surface of the .bearing sleeve 25 and held in position by collar 65 and set screw 66. The translating head I6 is mounted on the surface plate 62 and, as shown, includes a wire groove 68 through which the wire record .I 5 is drawn during recording and reproducing. The head is preferably :provided with oppositely inclined surfaces 69 and 1| to guide the wire into the groove 68, so that the head housing performs a double function, serving not only to house the magnetic recording and reproducing instrumenta-lities, .but also acting as one-of the guide means for engaging the wire and moving it into position across the capstan.

The turret also supports the wire guide I8 which, as shown, includes oppositely inclined surfaces 74 and 15 to engage the wire so that as the idler is moved upwardly and downwardly it will act as .a level winding device and guide the wire into single layer winding on the reel l 4. The wire guide roller I8 is rotatably mounted at the upper end of a spindle 16 mounted for vertical sliding movement in a bearing 11 extending through and fixed in the surface plate 62 of the turret. The spindle 16 includes a cam roller 18 mounted on a cross pin 19 near its lower end. The mounting bearing 1! of the spindle is the .same distance from the center of the spindle 2| as the radius .of the cam 51 so that as the cam is rotated by the worm gear 55 the spindle 16 is raised and lowered in a vertical reciprocating movement against a coil spring 8| extending between the lower surface of the gear 63 and the upper surface of a washer 82 positioned on the spindle immediately above the roller 18. The

v spindle is provided with a key way 83 and the bearing TI includes a key 84 so that rotation of the spindle in the bearing is prevented and the axis of the roller 18 is maintained on the radius of the cam 51.

The turret is rotatable between the idle position illustrated in Figure 1 and the recording or reproducing position illustrated in Figure 2. To this end a motor 86 is mounted on the frame In so that a worm gear 81 on its armature shaft may mesh with a worm gear 88 carried on a vertical stub shaft 89 mounted for rotation in bearings 9| and 92. The worm gear 88 is secured to the shaft by a set screw 93 and a pinion gear 94 in mesh with the gear 63 of the turret is secured by a set screw 95. The motor 86 may be operated in either forward or reverse direction to move the turret to the desired position, and circuit breakers (not shown) are arranged to stop the turret at the proper points of rotation, An oiling pad 96 may be mounted on a bracket 91 to lubricate the worm gear 81 if desired.

In the operation of the mechanism, the reels l3 and I4 on which the Wire is wound are placed in position on the armature shafts of the motors H and I2, respectively, so that the wire extends in a straight span between the reels (Figure 1). As this is done the turret is in inoperative position and the parts are so positioned that the translating head N5 of the device is positioned near, but to one side of the Wire span Hid, while the driving capstan I1 is on the opposite side of the span but also sufiiciently spaced from it that the spools and wires may be easily lifted off or positioned on the motor shafts without interference between the wire and these parts. The wire guide I8 is also clear of the span I5d. When the machine is to be operated for recording or reproducing, the motor 85 is energized to rotate the turret from the position shown in Figure 1 through about 210 degrees of movement to the position shown in Figure 2. As this occurs, it will be seen that the translating head 16 advances in an arcuate path around the capstan l1, so that it crosses the straight span l5d of the wire and draws the wire into a loop I5a around the recording head and into an arc P517 in the groove of the capstan. Thus, although the capstan is entirely stationary on its axis, the motion of the head, which serves as one of the wire guiding means, causes the wire to engage the capstan and be drawn into the V groove 19 thereof, so that the wire will be driven by the movement of the capstan. The level winding wire guide l8 also moves in an arcuate path from the position shown in Figure 1 across the right hand side of the wire span l5d, so that the surfaces 14 and 15 of the guide engage the wire at I50. This is at a point on the wire after it has passed over the driving capstan and before it reaches the reel [4, so that the vertical motion of the guide acts as an effective level wind, to lay the wire on the reel It in smooth layers. The capstan I1, being provided with a relatively large flywheel 45 and coupled to the motor 29 through a resilient torque connection 4! will revolve at a very smooth and constant speed, and will consequently drive. the wire at a uniform and unvarying linear rate. The rotation of the level winding cam 51 will cause a regular reciprocating movement of the level winding guide l8, so that it will rise and fall in direct proportion to the length of wire fed to the reel 14 and will wind the wire evenly in multiple layers on the reel.

In rewinding, it is unnecessary to maintain the uniformity of linear. speed, and since it is also undesirable to cause additional wear on the parts by drawing the wire through the groove of the recording head, the turret may be returned to the position of Figure 1, so that the wire is fed directly from the reel M to the reel I3. It has been learned that when this is done, it is unnecessary to utilize the level winding device, since the wire unwinding from the even layers of the reelv l4 will rise and fall and will thus achieve effective level winding on the reel l3.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the teachings of this disclosure mark a true advance in the magnetic recording art, since they make possible the utilization of an eflicient constant speed driving mechanism in connection with a machine having an automatic threading mechanism. This has not heretofore been accomplished, and though the need for a mechanism utilizing automatic threading yet capable of high fidelity performance has long been recognized, the common assumption in the art that such a device would require a bodily shiftable driving device for the wire and would thusinvolve gearing and bearing problems introducing backlash and vibration into the unit has resulted in the accepted belief that the problem would continue to defy solution. In the present disclosure, it is solved by a direct departure from prior teachings. The driving capstan itself does not move and is not supported by the turret. Thus it may be provided with adequate bearings, rigid on the main frame, and may carry a nywheel of sufficient mass to function properly. The threading is not accomplished by moving the capstan, but by the wire guiding means of the turret, which move about the axially stationary capstan so as to engage the wire, draw it into a loop around the translating head, and place it in the driving groove of the capstan and guide groove of the level winding device. It follows that the machine is entirely automatic in threading and unthreading, yet is capable of achieving extreme uniformity of wire speed and is thus capable of high fidelity reproduction not heretofore possible in a self-threading device.

The exact form of the invention illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification has been selected as the best embodiment of the inventive concept, and is believed to be well illustrative of the means by which these teachings can best be utilized, but it is recognized that various modifications are possible without sacrifice of all of the advantages of the invention, and it is accordingly pointed out that the scope of the inventive thought extends to any variations of structure coming within the terms of the appended claims. l v

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In a magnetic translating device including a main frame, a pair of reels supported by the frame and a coiled Wire record wound on the reels and adapted to extend in a straight span between them, the combination of an axially stationary driving spindle, a V grooved capstan at one end of the spindle, together with a flywheel on the spindle at the opposite end from the capstan; a mounting sleeve for said spindle including a pair of bearings spaced apart from each other to support the spindle; and means for fixedly securing the mounting sleeve as a part of the main frame; together with a rotatable turret carriedonthe mounting sleeve and coaxial with: the-axis of the driving spindle; a translating head: and a level winding guide each mounted on the turret and spaced away from the: capstan, with means for rotating the turret to advancethetranslating head and level winding guide acrossthe straight span of wire extending beimveen the reels whereby the wire is drawn into a loop at least. partially around the translating head and engaged by the level winding guide and driving capstan; and means for reciprocating the level winding guide in a plane perpendicular' to the path of the wire; said means including a slide rodparallel with the driving spindle and a single circular cam concentric with the driving spindle and rotatably mounted on bearings on the exterior of the mounting sleeve of the driving spindle, with a common driving means for the driving spindle and the level winding cam;

2'.- In amagnetic translating device including a mainframe, a pair of reels supported by the frame and; a coiled wire record wound on the reels and adapted toextend in a straight span between them, the combination of an axially stationary driving: spindle, a V-grooved capstan at one-end of the spindle, together with a fly-wheel on thespindleat. the opposite end from the capstan; a mounting sleeve for said spindle including: a pair ofbearings spaced apart from each other to support the spindle; and means for fixedly securing the mounting sleeve as a part of the'main frame; together with a rotatable turret, carried on the mounting sleeve and coaxial withrthe-axis of the driving spindle; a translating head and a level winding guide each mounted on therturret and spaced away from the capstan, with means for rotating the turret toadvance the' translating head and level winding guide acrossthestraight' span of Wide extending between the reels whereby the wire is drawn into aloop at least partially around the translating headrandengaged by the level winding guide and drivingcapstan; and-means for reciprocating the level, windingv guide in a plane perpendicular to the pathof the wire.

3. In a? magnetic translating device including a main frame, a pair of reels supported by the frame and a coiled wire record wound on the reels and adapted to extend in a straight span between them,.the combination of a mounting sleeve forminga part of the main frame; a rotatable. turret carried on the mounting sleeve, a translating head and a level winding guide each mounted on theturret, with means for rotating the turret to advance the translating head and level; winding guide. across the straight span of wire extending between the reels whereby the drive is drawn into. a loop at least partially around the translating head and engaged by the level winding guide; and means. for reciprocating the level winding guide in a plane perpendicular to the path of the wire, said means including a slide rodparallel'with the mounting sleeve, and means for rotating the cam with respect to the sleeve.

42 In a magnetic translating device including a main frame, a pair of reels supported by the frame and acoiled paramagnetic record wound on: the reels-and adapted to extend in a straight span. between. them, the combination of an axially stationary drivingspindle with a driving capstan. thereon; amounting sleeve for said spindle including at leastone bearing to support the 8'- spindle; mounting" sleeve as a part of the main frame; together with arotatable turret carried onthe mountingsleeve and coaxial: with the axis of the driving spindle; a translating head mounted on the turret and spaced away from the capstan, with means for'rotating theturret to advance-the translating head across the straight span of the paramagnetic record extending betweenthereels whereby the record is-d'rawn into a loop-at least partially around the translating head and engaged by the driving capstan,

5. In a magnetic translating deviceinoluding a main frame, a pair'of reels supported by the frame and a coiled paramagnetic record wound on-the reels and adapted to extend in a straight span between them, the combination of an axially stationary driving spindl'e' with a driving capstan thereon; mounting means for said spindle including a pairof bearings spaced apart from eachother and fixedly supported in the main frame; together with a translating head and ashiftabl'e support therefor, with means to advance the translating headacross the straight span of the record extending between the reels whereby the record is drawn into a loop at least partially around the translating head and en-- gaged by the driving capstan.

6. In a magnetic translating device including a main. frame, an elongated paramagnetic rec ord, and means supported by the frame to coil the record in either of two points of storage and t'o suspend. a straight span of the record between the pointsof storage, a threading mechanism for 3 the record comprising, in combination, a drivingvcapstan mounted for rotation on a fixed axis and carried in bearings in a stationary sleeve forming a part of: the main frame of the mechanism;. a turret rotatably mounted on said sleeve, with-a translating. head and a guide for the rec- 0rd supported on the turret; the turret adapted to be rotated around'the capstan to advance the translatinglhead and guide across the straight span of the record to engage the record, bring it intolengagement with the driving capstan, and form a loopin the record extending at least partially around the translating head.

7; In a magnetic translating device including a main frame, an elongated paramagnetic record, and means supported by the frame to coil the record: in either of two points of storage and to: suspend a span of the record between the points of storage, a threading mechanism for the record comprising, in combination, a driving capstan mounted for rotation on a fixed axis and carried in bearings-rigidly secured in the main frame of themechanism, a turret concentric with the capstan and. rotatably mounted on said'main: frame, and a translating head supported on the turret and adapted to be rotated around the capstan and advanced across the span of the record to engage the record, bring. it into engagement with the driving capstan, and form a loop in the record extending at least partially around the translating: head.

OTTO R. NEMETH.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Kuhlik Sept. 24, 1946 Number and means for fixedly securing the- 

